Hikvision's video compression boards are being used at a major residential building in New York. The block is one of a set of three adjoining riverfront structures in Manhattan that has attracted residents such as Calvin Klein and Nicole Kidman.

The buildings were designed by Richard Meier, one of the 'New York Five' group of celebrity architects who sprung to fame in the seventies. The newest of the structures, 165 Charles Street, features a remote doorman system that gives residents the convenience and security of a manned presence through web-based information management.

A core component in the servers controlling security at this apartment block are Hikvision's DS-4008HCI high-resolution video compression boards. These real-time H.264 (MPEG-4/Part 10) units also offer audio compression using the open-protocol Ogg Vorbis standard with 16KHz sampling rate and 16kbps output bit rate. A single PC can support up to 64 channels and the units exploit artificial intelligence when assessing possible motion detection triggers and rejecting false activation. Compression rates are unrivalled and integrators benefit from optimised use of RAID storage as longer recording times result in reduced maintenance costs and improved system resilience.

With theft and fraud involving bogus callers on the rise in a time of recession, managing agents are anxious to provide apartment owners with premium security services while keeping charges low. This is particularly important for the elderly or any vulnerable section of the community including the famous.

Intelligent managed access exploiting advances in video and audio technology has proved a way forward since it avoids human error and personnel demands associated with recruiting door staff. Virtual supervision of a residential building involves surveillance technology that does not sleep on duty, take breaks or call in sick.

The New York-based integrator Virtual Service has used its expertise in video conferencing and monitoring to develop Virtual DoormanÃ‚Â® over ten years as a leading managed access control system.

When callers such as department store employees, fast food couriers or dry cleaners arrive to make a delivery they activate video monitoring and audio feeds. Data is sent to Virtual Service's central station where human rather than artificial intelligence assesses the individual. In the case of a legitimate delivery person, he or she is directed under camera surveillance to a package room. The technology is context-aware and audio announcements can be made if a wrong turn is taken. Should the caller be a personal visitor and the resident is at home, then Virtual DoormanÃ‚Â® makes the appropriate connection.

About 110 apartment complexes in the New York metropolitan area employ Virtual DoormanÃ‚Â®, mostly in Manhattan. On other projects where a custom-built PC-based server is not required, Virtual Service are using Hikvision's DVRs. These are network Digital Video recorders featuring an embedded microprocessor control unit and real-time operating system. The recorders are available as 4,8,12 and 16- camera units.

Successful installations of this automated lobby surveillance have overcome initial skepticism from residents, since use of cameras represents less intrusion into people's lives than observation by door staff.

Mr Polo Cai, Vice President of Hikvision, said: "Our cooperation on product development with innovative integrators such as Virtual Service shows how judicious use of CCTV can improve many aspects of people's lives both at work and home."